PDF -to- DWG Converter ...

Hello Folks,

 

I need some feedback from experienced users that have utilized this sort of application. I have PDFs (Some with dimensions and some without).

 

GOAL: I am trying to produce the quickest turn around of a floor plan to upload into my CAFM software. Please advise.

 

Kindly,

Lisette

It's a long time since I used one, but I used to use pdfFLY: http://visual-integrity.com/products/pdf-fly/

The vector results were pretty good from vector PDF's, and it converted raster PDF's to attached images in Autocad, I expect they have got better with time.

Here's an old review that I did: http://www.cadeverything.com/help/showthread.php/5277-PDF-to-DXF-conversion?

 

They now have some cut down versions specifically for CAD work:

PDFin is an addon/plug in for Autocad, note this will not handle raster PDF's: http://visual-integrity.com/products/pdfin/

PDF2cad is a more general stand alone CAD convertor: http://visual-integrity.com/products/pdf2cad/

 

I haven't tried either of these but there are free trials if you want to give them a go, or if you only want to do a one time conversion.

 

I notice that for PDF2cad they are offering to convert a test file if you send it to them.

From what I understand, Autocad 2017 now has the ability to convert pdf's to CAD geometry and text. I don't have it, so I can't try it out. I'm wondering if anyone has has given it a whirl? http://blogs.autodesk.com/autocad/autocad-2017-pdf-import/

I have used 2017 to convert a PDF to a drawing, it worked really well.

I used the feature in AutoCAD 2017 yesterday. Works quite well. Only thing I noticed is that inches/ mm property (scaling is defined by it) goes wrong when PDF comes from Revit

I have used 2017 to convert a PDF to a drawing, it worked really well.

 

Now THAT is a new feature that sounds worthwhile!

I hate doing Geometry drawings from the PDFs we receive with tender packages, it is a BLACK ART, never ceases to annoy the hell out of me.

It makes me wonder how it is, that anything ever gets built!

Read about it yesterday but haven't tried it. Sounds interesting but I have low expectations anyway so even if it works half way decently I suppose it would be a plus (nothing else to download or buy).

I wouldn't expect, nor dare work from what it churned out, we always redraw what we receive, so that we know that what we are working with is drawn correctly.

But I imagine I would greatly prefer referencing it, to the actual PDFs, attached as underlays. The ability to snap to PDF O snaps is helpful, but totally unreliable, as they are the spawn of the lousy PDFs which they strive to emulate. Sounds interesting, despite any inherent shortcomings associated with the task at hand.

It all comes down to the type/quality of the PDFs that you are dealing with. If the PDFs are vector and have layer information, the output is going to be pretty good. Raster PDF conversions are going to require a fair amount of work to get a proper drawing out of them, garbage in, garbage out. I've heard good things about the new converter used with vector PDFs.

I have a couple walkthroughs which i have used with decent success

Vector PDF to CAD http://cadnoob.com/CADnoobJoom/index.php/tutorials-how-to/18-f-pdfs-converting-pdfs-to-cad

 

Raster to CAD http://cadnoob.com/CADnoobJoom/index.php/tutorials-how-to/20-talent-borrows-genius-steals-converting-raster-images-to-cad Also there is a vectorize it program that autodesk makes, but i dont do apple so i can try it out.

 

 

I would recommend using 2017 though. Its pretty slick. The biggest issue though is that PDFs are usually off on their best days, they just dont have the precision to really be just dumped into CAD.

Hello Folks,

 

I need some feedback from experienced users that have utilized this sort of application. I have PDFs (Some with dimensions and some without).

 

GOAL: I am trying to produce the quickest turn around of a floor plan to upload into my CAFM software. Please advise.

 

Kindly,

Lisette

If you don't plan on having AutoCAD 2017, then you can also try Inkscape. It's a free vector based drawing application similar to Adobe Illustrator. I've had great results with it by simply opening a vector based PDF then doing a Save As as a DXF. It even translates layers if they were embedded to begin with. Just one more option to try is all.

 

-TZ